Senior Cabin 7 loves the food at camp this summer! The whole cabin got together and made this “card” for Rick and his kitchen crew. All the baking, the cookouts, the homemade salad dressings, salsas and pasta sauces are really a huge it.

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Seniors Love the Food!

• Kids Camps Food
• Camp Counselor Positions
• Camp Cabin Photos Taken

The 4th of July began with everyone waking up to the sound of horses running down the cabin lines, and the equestrian staff yelling “The British are coming; wake up; wake up!!” Dressed in festive red, white and blue, the riders and their horses made quite a scene. The entire camp stumbled out of their cabins and made their way to hill for a quick flag raising ceremony, ending with everyone reciting the pledge of allegiance.

The rest of the day we enjoyed our regular camp activities… crafts, outdoor adventure, sports, horseback riding.  Then for dinner, Rick prepared an excellent cookout of burgers, corn, chips and watermelon.  We all sat and ate on the hill, and since we had some music playing, sang and danced too.  It was a nice way to spend the  evening.

Capping off the day, everyone gathered again on the hill for a great fireworks display. For about 20 minutes bangs and colorful flashes in the sky entertained us before turning in for the night.  Overall, it was a great day of all-camp activities and holiday celebration fun.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

4th of July… Camp Style

• Horseback Riding Lessons at Camp
• Camp Riding Program
• Horseback Riding

Yesterday we took the entire Middler Line to Sliding Rock, the wonderful natural water slide nearby in the Pisgah National Forest. We loaded up all 75 (5-6 grade) campers and counselors and had an exciting afternoon and evening with lots of trips down the rock to plunge into the chilly water. And since it was surprisingly uncrowded, the girls got to slide a lot. It’s such a classic summer activity here in the mountains, everyone loves it! On the way down the mountain, we just had to stop at Dolly’s for a cone of “Rockbrook Chocolate Illusion” ice cream. Yum!

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Middlers Go to Sliding Rock

• Sliding Rock Camp Fun!
• NC Camps
• A Rock for Sliding

Just a quick post to report that our second camp session of the summer has begun. Sunday was our opening day with all 200 girls arriving safely, mostly by car but also a fair number by plane. We even had a few international campers arrive in Charlotte, so Talley drove down to pick them up.

Wow, camp is chock full at the moment. All the seats in the dining hall are taken, activities are staffed and completely filled. This makes for another exciting, and sometimes loud session. We love it!

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2nd session has begun!

• Opening Day for Second Session Camp 2007
• Your Best Camp Memories
• Getting Ready

The Rockbrook horseback riding program is in full swing with lessons. Cara Thompson, the equestrian director, rejoined the staff yesterday after completing her first year of graduate school. Everette Bartlett, our farrier, will be working with several horses this morning as well.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Horseback Riding in Full Swing

• Camp Riding Program
• Horseback Riding Lessons at Camp
• Girls Riding Camp Stable Club

We took the CA campers on a hike to John Rock yesterday. All 20 of them, their 5 counselors, Jessi and Jeff made the mostly uphill hike from the fish hatchery to the rock. It’s a fantastic walk through the woods. Right now the mountain laurels are blooming, so parts of the trail wind you through a tunnel of white and pink flowers. Then at the top it’s a breath-taking view across to Looking Glass Rock (in the background of this photo).

We took the hike to discuss what this session’s banquet theme will be. Starting with almost 40 different ideas, these 9th graders slowly narrowed down the list and finally settled on a fantastic idea. For the rest of the session, they’ll work on decorations, costumes, skits, songs, dances, and a special menu to match their theme. It’s a big event, and a big surprise for everyone else in camp.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

CAs Hike

• Camps Overnight Banquet
• It’s Finally Here!
• Summer Camp Horse Show

Campers! Counselors! Trips and Activities! We’re all here and ready to go. It feels so good to finally have camp open and to see everything in motion. After spending all year preparing for summer, thinking about the girls returning, and arranging our fantastic staff, it’s very exciting to get started.

And what a start it’s been! The weather has been perfect… warm 80s during the day and cool 60s at night. With all of the rain we had in the weeks leading up to camp, everything is fantastically green and lush right now. It makes camp just beautiful— bright skies, a clear view of John Rock from under the walnut tree on the hill.

All of the camp activities kicked off as well. The girls signed up for their first set of activities and really got busy. The crafts, the adventure, the horseback riding, the sports. Head over to the photo gallery and check it out.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

The First Day of the First Session!

• The Fun and Friends of Camp
• Sleep Away Summer Camp Hiking
• Teen Girls Adventure Camp

Packing for Camp!

Have you checked your list for camp? Have you found your trunk? Well, now’s the time to start gathering all your stuff— clothes, flashlight, towels, sunscreen, water bottle and bug spray . Everybody’s laundry is sent out each week, so you don’t have to go too crazy packing clothes. Oh, and don’t forget to pack some costumes. You’re gonna be dressing up!

Go check out the complete packing list, and get packing!

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Let’s get Packing!

• Top 10 ways to dress up at summer camp
• Outdoor Fun with Shaving Cream
• Fun Halloween Projects

It’s hard to believe we’re in the final few days before our 2009 summer camp season begins. Everyone at camp has been busy getting ready. We’ve set up activity areas, swept and cleaned the cabins, filled the lake, and opened up the kitchen. Last night the first few counselors arrived! They have arrived a few days early to enroll in different courses— Rachel for riflery and Kara for archery. All the other counselors arrive this weekend (by land! by air!) to kick off our staff orientation week, and just seven days later, the first session campers arrive. That’s exciting.

Are you ready for camp?

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Getting Ready

• Ready for Camp
• Opening Day for Second Session Camp 2007
• 1-Week Summer Camp Session Opens!

Elaine Trozzo is returning this summer to head our camp gymnastics instruction program. Elaine has taught gymnastics for the Transylvania County (NC) Parks and Recreation Department for 14 years. She has coached a competitive gymnastics team for 3 years, and has served as a gymnastics competition judge for 4 years. She has been certified by USA Gymnastics and holds the National Safety Certification in gymnastics. This will be Elaine’s sixth year as the head of Rockbrook’s camp gymnastics instruction.

Also returning are some of our awesome gymnastics counselors from camp last summer. You’ll see Karen and Abby down at the gym. We’re also happy to introduce Jess Watrin. She has many years of gymnastics experience and will be one of our gymnastics main instructors.

Yea Gymnastics!!

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Camp Gymnastics Instruction

• Girls Gymnastics Camps
• Exciting Summer Gymnastics!
• Spotlight on Sarah

There seems to always be some kind of painting going on at Rockbrook Camp. Everyday in the painting and drawing activity, of course, girls are painting, working on composition, color, texture, perspective, etc. In the drama activity, girls will be painting scenery for the end of session play. During one of the special afternoon events— like a carnival, for example —there’ll be face painting, of like in this picture, body painting to show your team spirit. In the “Hodge Podge” craft activity, chance are you’ll see girls painting fabric pillow cases, backpacks, or bandannas. The ninth grader CAs do tons of painting as they prepare decorations for the big surprise banquet at the end of each session. It’s really quite amazing how much painting we do at camp.  Bring your brush!

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Girls Painting at Camp

• Outdoor Painting Fun
• Fun Crafts for Girls
• Camp Tie Dyes Forever

Can you tell we’re excited? It’s because camp will be starting up in just a few short weeks!! After being in our office all winter and doing lots of thinking about camps, it feels so good to actually be outside and at camp again. It’s nice to get outside and wander around camp unpacking things, setting up activity and program areas, and just enjoying the beauty of Rockbrook. The camp countdown (over on the sidebar) has dipped below 20 days. How long before you arrive at camp?

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Outside at Camp

• Ready for Camp
• Getting Ready
• Summer Camp Feelings

Whitewater kayaking is really catching on with the kids at Rockbook, and not just with our Seniors. Our Middlers, kids in the 5th or 6th grade, are also excited about kayaking.

You might think that is a little young to start such a technical sport, but the camp girls are usually quick to catch on to what’s involved. They learn about the equipment and basic techniques in the Rockbrook lake, and when ready, then move to one of the local rivers.

Even on the Rockbrook Camp property, there is a short section of the French Broad river that provides a great teaching rapid. It’s a nice cove of the river perfect for learning to ferry, peel out, and catch an eddy— three important kayaking maneuvers. Next stop? The Green, the Tuckaseegee, and the Nantahala rivers!

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Kayaking for Kids

• Summer Camps 4 Kids – Canoeing
• Kayaking Adventure at Camp
• Girls Kayaking

Here are some of the horses returning to Rockbrook this summer. Most of them were at camp last summer too. Do you recognize any of them?

Annie — black mare, 13.2
Danny — bay gelding, 14
Buddy — grey gelding, 14
Lacy — strawberry roan mare, 13.1
Moe — chestnut gelding, 16.2
Oliver — chestnut gelding, 16.2
Woody — bay gelding, 16
Special — chestnut gelding, 15
Louie — brown gelding, 15.3
Robbie — brown gelding, 15.3
Bruce Leigh — bay gelding, 15
Fritz — bay gelding, 16.2
Deacon — brown gelding, 15.2
Emma — bay mare, 14.3
Watson — chestnut gelding, 15.2
Bailey — bay gelding, 15.3
Quincey — chestnut gelding, 15.2
Gilmore — bay gelding, 16
Nikita — bay mare, 16
Gordon — grey gelding, 16.2
Profound — chestnut gelding, 16
Katie — grey mare, 15.3
Naxos — bay gelding, 16.1
Pepi — bay gelding, 14.2
Reagan — chestnut gelding, 15.2

Isn’t that exciting!!? So, which horse do you want to ride?

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

A Camp of Horses

• Meet Profound
• Girls Only Horse Camps
• Befriend a Special Horse

Deep in the forest at Rockbrook, there are two different waterfalls. One is tall and thin, and is located just above the heart of camp. It’s called “Stick Biscuit Falls.” Pictured here is part of the other private waterfall on the camp property, “Rockbrook Falls.” It’s a long series of smaller waterfalls made by Dunn’s Creek as it drops off of Chestnut Mountain into the French Broad River valley. You can see that this waterfall is surrounded by forest trees and is made of huge granite boulders. Look at the intense green of that moss!

For generations now, Rockbrook camp girls have taken hikes to Rockbrook Falls. Only about a mile from the center of camp, the trail to this waterfall is a beautiful walk through the western North Carolina woods.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Camp Waterfalls

• Kids Camp in North Carolina
• Camp in the Mountains
• Adventure Camp Kids

Hey what’s your score? When girls select riflery as one of their camp activities, they first learn the basics of shooting. After some practice, camp girls develop their marksmanship skills and begin to shoot more evenly. When they can consistently hit higher scores, they can pass through a series of NRA ratings and earn special “Light Rifle Qualification” awards.

On these official targets, a bullseye earns a score of 10. That means the ordinary round of five bullets can total 50 in all. One “course” is 20 shots (4 rounds of 5 bullets) for a total possible score of 200. So if, from the prone, or lying down, position, you can shoot two courses that score 100, that earns you the “Pro-Marksman” rating. If you improve and can shoot two courses of 125, you earn the “Marksman” rating. And it goes up from there: 3 courses of 150 earns “Marksman First Class,” 4 courses of 165 earns “Sharpshooter,” and 6 courses of 180 earns the “Expert” rating. Wow!  That sure would take a lot of practice!

Learn more about these ratings over at the NRA website.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Riflery Camp for Girls

• Kids Camp Riflery
• Riflery Activity for Girls
• Teen Camp Riflery

“I enjoyed every part of Rockbrook. Being from Florida, I really loved the mountains, waterfalls and streams. Every summer, camp was something I looked forward to. I can look back on my experience at overnight camp and thank my mother for doing it for me.”

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Remembering Summer Camp

• Ya Gotta Go Hiking at Camp
• FL Girls in NC
• Jacksonville Florida Summer Camp Girls

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Because of Camp…

• What’s made you so talented?
• A Place to Grow
• American Camp Association Summer Camp

One important mark of leadership for the staff at Rockbrook is their ability to model personal character for the girls at camp. We strive to hire cabin counselors and activity staff members who exemplify good character and thereby can serve as role models for the campers. It means a lot to children to see others they admire make good decisions. It’s just a crucial part of building character— having positive relationships with others who embody exemplary habits and attitudes. When we talk about “leadership” at camp, this is what we mean: being that sort of exemplary person.

But what is exemplary character, how do you recognize it, and how do you encourage its development? We’ve found the approach taken by the Josephson Institute to be extremely articulate and practical. It’s “Six Pillars of Character” is a well thought out resource. Essentially, the “pillars” are fundamental principles and values that serve as a core for ethical decision making. They are: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.  Without appealing to religion, politics or ideology, we strive to realize these six values in our camp community.

There’s a lot of good stuff in all of this, so go learn more.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

Being a Camp Leader

• Leadership Summer Camp
• Summer Camp Counselor
• A Quick Quote

Dance, Dance, every day! Yes, you can because the overnight summer camps dance program at Rockbrook includes our scheduled dance activity. Camp girls of all ages sign up for the classes down in the Lakeview Lodge (seen here in this photo). One side of the lodge is mirrors and the hardwood floor is perfect for all kinds of dancing: Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, Country, even some Irish now and then. Of course, the dance instructors will be ready to show you plenty of new cool moves. And don’t forget the great exercise you get zooming around.

Can you imagine it? It’s lots of fun.

This post from: Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls Blog

You Can Dance

• Dance Summer Camp
• Summer Dance Camp
• Summer’s Time for Dancing